Super Bowl Viewers Decry ‘Soft Core Pornography’ in FCC Complaints

Because the SuperBowl is already ages and ages ago in the Internet’s memory, allow me to supply you with a few buzzy phrases: Katy Perry. Puppies. That kid who died in an insurance commercial. Missy Elliot. Boobs.

OK, are we on the same page? Good, because our pals at MuckRock have pored through the FCC’s released series of complaints received by viewers regarding the February broadcast, and they are worth your time. Though the full list of complaints is available for your viewing pleasure, the same couple of complaints were found cropping up again and again.

Before the first throw was made, a large amount of flack was taken by GoDaddy’s “Lost Puppy” commercial, intended to be a parody of the Budweiser commercial broadcast the same night:

The spot was pulled before it was aired, but the original video can still be found online.

Unsurprisingly, Katy Perry’s halftime show was a popular target for the casual viewer as well, sparking criticism from her outfits to Missy Elliot’s raunchy “Work It” lyrics.

That’s right, we’re still not over the lyrics to “I Kissed a Girl.”

The Victoria’s Secret commercial was skewered for its blatant display of sexuality:

And of course, the Nationwide commercial (no, not the Mindy Kaling one) where a child’s death is heavily implied triggered some pretty serious criticism, as well:

Controversy is always bound to be ignited by major cultural events like the SuperBowl, but doesn’t it all feel a little less menacing with the knowledge that we won?